JOLO, Sulu — Authorities confiscated at least 100 turtle eggs during an operation at the Serantes Fish Landing Wet Market in Jolo on August 25, 2025, in a crackdown against illegal wildlife trade.
The operation, conducted around 10:30 a.m., was carried out by personnel of the Sulu Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA) following intelligence reports on the sale of endangered species in the area. The team, led by PSMS Al-Shariff A. Ammad under the supervision of PMAJ Randy P. Veran, discovered the eggs placed on top of an ice chest cover along the shoreline.
Despite immediate efforts to identify the owner, no individual came forward to claim the confiscated eggs, which authorities estimate to have a market value of ₱1,500.
The seized turtle eggs were brought to the Sulu MARPSTA office for documentation and safekeeping before being turned over to the concerned government agency for proper handling and disposition, in line with protocols for endangered species.
Authorities have since launched a deeper investigation to identify those behind the illegal trade. The sale and possession of turtle eggs is a violation of Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which prohibits the collection, possession, and trade of wildlife and their by-products. Offenders face fines and imprisonment.
Officials stressed that the confiscation highlights the continuing threats to marine biodiversity in Sulu and reiterated their call for stronger public cooperation in protecting endangered species.